The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1887-02-17
Angora Goats.

Will cry TO give you tne PfomlsCa
article on Angora goats, and although a
good deal has been written about them
during the last twenty years, yet, as there
are but few of them in the United States,
they are comparatively unknown to the
average farmer. They are fleece
bearing animal, the fleece Of which re.
sembles silk and has been much used as
substitute for raw elk. The first
importation of these valuable animals
was made by citizen of this State, in
1S49, DR.. James B. Davis, of Monticello,
Fairfield County, who kept them few
years and sold his whole herd to Col.
Richard Peters, of Atlanta, Ga, ats1 900
each. Col. Peters has bred them success
fully on his stock farm near Calhoun, Ga.
Several importations have been made
since, but owing to the high prices at
which they we're held aud the little in
terest taken id stock by our people, com.
paratively few have been sold near home;
but in Texas and other Southern and
Western grass.growing States they are
attracting the attention they deserve.
Having been crossed extensively with
the common goats, they now havea class
of grades about equal in looks and prac'
tical value to the pure breeds. Five or
ak crosses will produce this result. The
first CROSS makes but little show, the
second produces fine fleece, about three
inches long, and by using pure.bred
bucks land no other should be used) the
fleece is gradually increased in length
until itattains the requisite length, which
is worth about fifty cents pound, when
put up in good ccrdition, and so on down
in proportion to grade, and even the
second crop is marketable.
Messrs. Macnaughton's Sons and the
Tongue Manufacturing Company will
buy all that is raised in the United
States, and great deal more has to be
imported from Asia Minor to meet the
demand. This is the mohair of COM
merce, and it is a shame for our manufac.
turers to have TO send all the way to
Turkey aud Australia for mohair and
wool while we could 80 easily and 80
proftably supply the demand. Thou
sands of sheep and goats could be raised
By the farmers in the Southern States at
very little cost and much clear profit, but
while the dogs remain above the law
little progress will be made in this line,
especially with sheep, the natural prey
of the dog. The goat is comparatively
exempt from the depredations of dogs.
The dog is much less inclined to chase
the goat, and The goat is not so much in
dread Of The dog as to interfere with his
grazing, while the sheep will leave the
pasture at full speed at the sight of q
dog, never looking back to see whether it
is pursued or not
These goats seem perfectly adapted to
our climate, are very healthy, and are
easily raised, eat almost everything that
grows in the way of vegetation, and are
great helps to the farmer in eradicating
briars, sassafras and other farm pests. l
have seen them eat the balls off the
thistle, thereby destroying the seed. The
seed of the jamestown weed, pest, is an
especial luxury in this way. They i'm.
prove our pastures by destroying what
other animals neglect. will continue
this subject-J. Washington Watts, in
Weekly Neaos and Courier.